DTI Notes Price Hike of 8 Basic Commodities; NFA 7 Assures Stable Supply of Rice
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu reported that only eight, or 4.39 percent, out of the 182 basic commodities, they are monitoring have increased its prices as of Oct. 5.
Hope Melgar, DTI Cebu officer-in-charge, in a meeting with members of the Provincial Local Price Coordinating Council chaired by Gov. Hilario P. Davide III identified two brands of canned sardines, four processed canned meat, a vinegar, and a bath soap to have posted an average price increase of at least P.50 cents.
During the same meeting last Oct. 11, the National Food Authority also declared that Cebu’s rice supply is stable.
Melgar’s reports showed that a King Cup brand sardines (155 grams), posted an increase of P0.45 centavo, which is now priced at P14.25 per can from its previous P13.80; a Family Budget Pack sardines (130g) increased its price from P12.00 to P13.25, or a P1.25 price increase.
On processed canned meat, Argentina meat loaf and Argentina corned beef also increased their prices. The meat loaf is from P17.00 to P17.95, while the corned beef is from P29.50 to P30.95.
For a can of 555 beef loaf (150g), the price rose to P17.45 from P16.75, while for a can of Argentina beef loaf, it is now sold at P16.85 from P16.50.
A bottle of Datu Puti (350ml) vinegar has also increased from P19.00 to P19.95.
Meanwhile, a Safeguard white bar (60g) is now sold at P17.25 from P17.75.
Rice monitoring
NFA 7 Director Fernando Nuñez during the council meeting also assured that Central Visayas, especially Cebu, has enough supply of rice.
He showed a rice importation chart where the National Government imported 250,000 metric tons of rice, and 25,000 metric tons from that has been allocated for Central Visayas.
The government also acquired additional 250,000 metric tons of rice from “open tender” or the bidding process among foreign suppliers. He said that 24,000 metric tons of that is allocated for Central Visayas.
This means, the region has a total of 49,000 metric tons of rice supply.
The NFA official also presented its stock (in bags with 50 kilos for each bag) inventory chart that showed Cebu has a total of 343,317 bags of rice. With at least 4,609 bags of daily average sales, the supply of NFA rice will last up to 74 days.
“Rice is not contributing to inflation rate,” said National Economic Development Authority 7 Director Efren Carreon, who attended the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives and officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Energy, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and National Meat Inspection Service. (Cebu Provincial Gov’t)
